They’ve added grit in Steve Ott and John Scott, and Cody Hodgson appears to be on the cusp of becoming an everyday front-line player in the National Hockey League.

But for the Buffalo Sabres, it will always come back to goaltender Ryan Miller until the moment the 32-year-old no longer is part of the organization.

And so it was on Monday night that Miller, who has been a pain in the butt for the Maple Leafs since he solidified his place with the Sabres in the 2005-06 season, was the backbone in Buffalo’s 2-1 victory at the Air Canada Centre.

Miller made 34 saves to ruin the Leafs’ home opener, improving to 28-14-0 against Toronto in his career. He hasn’t beaten any other team that many times.

Miller was crucial during the seven times the Sabres were shorthanded, allowing only a goal to Nazem Kadri with less than two minutes left in the third period. The lanky netminder was lucky that Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf fired a shot off the crossbar during a two-man Leafs advantage late in the first period, but otherwise got by on his abundance of talent.

There was a glove save on Phil Kessel. James van Riemsdyk couldn’t bang the puck into the net despite several whacks at it. John-Michael Liles came in through the back door, but was stuffed by Miller.

With his team ahead 1-0, Miller stopped eight Leafs shots after the Sabres were assessed three minors in under two minutes starting at 14:24 of the first.

“That 5-on-3 was a crucial part of the game,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. “We had a couple good blocks and I thought Ryan gave us three or four really good saves. That was the toughest part of the game.

“They got momentum off their power play. Five-on-five, we played the game we wanted to play and we did not give up a lot.”

Before the game, Miller reminded his teammates the Sabres didn’t win once in three trips to the ACC last season.

“They’re a fast team and they are going to create all the time,” Miller said. “They had the puck a lot. I thought we respected this team and the skill they have and we played hard.

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but we lost a lot of different ways last year. We are just happy to have found a way to win and to get a good start was important. It is already going to have to be behind us. We’re just off and running and running and running. It’s going to be a tough season for everybody and you have to get your points while you can.”

Ott, whose presence in the Northeast Division after years of creating enemies out west with the Dallas Stars will bad news for all of the Sabres’ rivals, led all players with seven hits. Scott and Colton Orr fought in the first period. Patrick Kaleta was a pest as usual, and bopped Kessel on the head a few times after the latter bumped into Miller.

Hodgson scored his second goal in as many games when Christian Ehrhoff’s shot caromed off his chest and went behind Ben Scrivens into the net. Pominville and Thomas Vanek, Hodgson’s linemates, got the winning goal in the second period when Vanek checked Nikolai Kulemin off the puck and fed Pominville on an odd-man rush.

Something the Leafs know all too well. They’ll try again on Jan. 29 in Buffalo to get the better of Miller. Wish them luck.

NO GOAL: THOUGHT SO

Ryan Miller figured that Joffrey Lupul must have done something weird to score, but the Buffalo Sabres goalie could not be certain.

With one minute 17 seconds remaining in the third period, Lupul appeared to have tied the game, but replays showed the Maple Leafs forward deliberately knocked the puck into the net with his hand.

“I did not understand how it went in,” Miller said. “I had my stick out to deflect it from the crease and it went away from me, so I was a little confused how it went in without a little help. I was planning for it to be a goal and to reset my mind to go into overtime.”

Miller’s initial suspicions were right. The goal was not allowed after a review by referees Dan O’Halloran and Brian Pochmara, and the Sabres won 2-1.

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Miller still Mr. Everything for Sabres

They’ve added grit in Steve Ott and John Scott, and Cody Hodgson appears to be on the cusp of becoming an everyday front-line player in the National Hockey League.

But for the Buffalo Sabres, it will always come back to goaltender Ryan Miller until the moment the 32-year-old no longer is part of the organization.

And so it was on Monday night that Miller, who has been a pain in the butt for the Maple Leafs since he solidified his place with the Sabres in the 2005-06 season, was the backbone in Buffalo’s 2-1 victory at the Air Canada Centre.